by Justin Davis

PRUSZKOW, Poland, March 25, 2009 (AFP) – American sensation Taylor Phinney is gunning for the first of a possible two gold medals when he lines up for the men’s individual pursuit here at the world championships on Thursday.

On a day that will see five finals decided, the 1.93m tall teenager is being tipped to grab the individual pursuit crown from absent world and Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins of Britain.

If successful, Phinney would add another line to his family’s rich cycling heritage.

An up and coming road racer on Lance Armstrong’s Trek-Livestrong development team and a junior world track champion, Phinney’s father Davis won two Tour de France stages while his mum Connie Carpenter is a former Olympic gold medalist in cycling.

Phinney junior last year signalled his progress in the 4km event with a seventh place finish at the Beijing Olympics, following that up by claiming his second consecutive national pursuit crown.

More recently the 19-year-old won the World Cup event in Copenhagen, where he also stunned the kilometer field to claim victory in the four-lap race against the clock. He will also ride the kilometre here this week.

New Zealand’s Jesse Sergent, who rides in the same Livestrong team as Phinney, and Australian Jack Bobridge – as well as Ireland’s David O’Loughlin – are among a handful of riders battling for a medal.

New Zealand head coach Tim Carswell believes Phinney is the overriding favourite, and quipped: “He’s got the genes – he couldn’t be anything other than a great cyclist!”

But Carswell is hoping Sergent can spring a surprise: “Jesse’s going good, he’s improved his former best time of 4min 17sec to 4:16 at the national championships. I don’t know how the other guys will go but Jesse will definitely be fighting for a medal.”

With world pacesetters Britain likely to have made a positive start on the opening day, their medals hunt will continue in Thursday’s four other events.

Manxman Mark Cavendish, a four-time stage winner at last year’s Tour de France, confirmed his status as an up and coming great on the road when he won the Milan-San Remo one-day classic on Saturday.

His decision to compete here came as something of a surprise, and signals his intentions for Thursday’s scratch, and Saturday’s Madison – which left him with a bitter taste in Beijing where he and Wiggins failed miserably in the two-man event.

In the women’s team pursuit Britain will start without one of their key members, Olympic and world pursuit champion Rebecca Romero.

However in Wendy Houvenaghel, Joanna Rowsell and emerging talent Lizzie Armistead Britain appear to have the tools to hold off what will likely be strong challenges from New Zealand and Australia.

One of the most dramatic events in track is the chaotic keirin, where the field is motor-paced for several laps before a three-lap battle of nerves, flying elbows and frantically-spinning legs decides the winner.

Scotland’s Sir Chris Hoy is out injured and will not defend his title – meaning the keirin tournament could return to its more traditional form.

During Hoy’s hold on the event his tactic was to quickly pull to the front and set such a blistering pace that his rivals never got a look in.

On Thursday, imposing young Frenchman Kevin Sireau starts as one of the favourites although the nature of keirin – where tumbles are not uncommon – could decide otherwise.